Dual energy CT pulmonary angiography: findings in a patient with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Abstract

Dual energy CT pulmonary angiography: findings in a patient with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertensionA 55-year-old woman became increasingly breathless over a 9month period.Systolic pulmonary artery pressure was estimated at 50 mm Hg by echocardiography.CT pulmonary angiography was performed using a dual energy technique whereby datasets are simultaneously acquired at 80 kV and 140 kV.Differential absorption of these energy spectra by iodine molecules in intravenous contrast medium is exploited to generate a map of parenchymal perfusion in addition to standard grey-scale images. 1 Multiple laminated thrombi and web stenoses were demonstrated and their functional significance elegantly shown by corresponding perfusion defects on the dual energy perfusion images (figs 1 and 2).Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy was performed and recovery was uneventful.